James Craigen edges Dunfermline to Inverness win

JAMES CRAIGEN was Dunfermline's hero as they recorded a hard-fought win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle tonight to keep their play-off hopes alive.

The midfielder's first goal for the club, courtesy of a free-kick after five minutes, was enough to give Allan Johnston's team a precious three points, their first in seven games.

It wasn't a pretty 90 minutes but it was a deserved win for the hosts, who had an effort by Nicky Clark hacked off the line and Declan McManus hit the post in the second half.

The result lifted Athletic back into fifth place, ahead of Queen of the South on goal difference, after they lost at home to Dundee United.

The Pars are now also just four points behind fourth-top Morton, who they face in another vital clash at East End on Saturday.

Johnston made three changes to the starting line-up from Saturday's two-goal reverse at St Mirren.

Jason Talbot, who was sent off in conceding the penalty for Saints opener, was banned while Jean Yves-Mvoto dropped out of the squad completely as Daniel Armstrong was named among the substitutes.

Skipper Callum Morris, Lewis Martin and Kallum Higginbotham took their places in the starting line-up while Fraser Aird, Dean Shiels and Scott Lochhead returned to the bench, but Joe Cardle missed out completely.

Dunfermline went into the match without a win since a 1-0 success at Dumbarton in January - a run of seven games in all competitions - while they hadn't scored in any of their last three games.

Indeed, they'd scored more goals the last time the Highlanders visited - a 5-1 success in August - than they had in their previous eight games, which had yielded just four goals.

With Dundee United, having played three games fewer, five points ahead of the Pars in the final promotion play-off spot, and Inverness in-turn five behind the home side with two games in-hand, this was a crucial game in Athletic's bid to reignite their promotion bid.

They needed to try and give the home fans something to latch on to and Tom Beadling tried to immediately from the kick-off.

The on-loan Sunderland midfielder broke forward to the edge of the area to shoot, but his effort was deflected out for a corner.

From the delivery, Higginbotham's low ball found Beadling again but he could only clip a first-time shot over the bar.

But the crowd didn't need to wait long to rise to their feet as Dunfermline took the lead with just five minutes on the clock.

Good work from Higginbotham saw him bustle his way to the edge of the box, where he was brought down.

Inverness' Cameron Harper took a knock and was replaced by Brad McKay before Craigen stepped up to send a lovely right-footed curler into the right-hand corner of Mark Ridgers' net.

It was the ideal start for the Athletic and they had a half-chance to double their lead in the 16th minute when Declan McManus made his way into the box and, although he had support in the middle, he took the ball on to his right but saw his shot blocked for a corner.

The Highlanders started to enjoy some decent possession but struggled to trouble the hosts, although Morris had to be alert to snuff out the threat of Aaron Doran after George Oakley almost played him in with a fine pass.

Higginbotham was looking in the mood and, when he was gifted the ball in the middle of the park, a good chance looked on.

Despite having a ball through for McManus on to his right, he elected to go left but his pass couldn't find its intended target, with Collin Seedorf intercepting.

A Craigen corner was then just missed by the head of Ashcroft as the home side probed for a second, but they comfortably held their advantage until the half-time break.

John Robertson's team hadn't troubled Pars goalkeeper Lee Robinson in the opening 45 but, just three minutes into the second period, they forced him into action when Doran scuffed a shot towards goal from a cross from the right but it was easily smothered.

At the other end, Craigen latched on to a loose ball after Nicky Clark challenged for a high ball and drove towards goal, but Ridgers got down well to push past the post.

From the resulting corner, Caley managed to clear out of the box but only for the midfielder to smash it back towards goal, but he was off-target with his effort.

There was a slight scare for Ridgers just before the hour mark when Clark chased down a pass back to him and deflected his clearance which fell kindly for Beadling, but he couldn't pick out Higginbotham with a through pass.

The Pars continued to ask questions and lovely play on the right saw Higginbotham release Ryan Williamson, who skipped beyond Carl Tremarco and fire in a cross that Ridgers did well to punch clear before McManus could get his head on it.

Craigen then fired a shot wide before there were half-hearted penalty appeals from the visiting fans as Oakley went down under pressure from Lee Ashcroft, who ensured the home goal remained untroubled.

Former Falkirk midfielder Craigen was clearly confident after finding the net for the first time in Pars colours and he continued to pepper the Inverness goal.

In the 66th minute, Morris' high pass looking for the run of McManus was headed clear by Gary Warren but only to the feet of Craigen, who cut onto his right foot but shot wide from around 20 yards.

Clark was the next home player to go for goal, but it was catching practice for Ridgers, who was almost culpable for a second Pars goal moments later.

Just after the visitors had made a double substitution, a cross from the right seemed to cause panic in the six-yard box and, after Ridgers flapped, Clark prodded it towards goal only for the ball to be hacked off the line.

Dunfermline kept the pressure on and, after some patient build-up on the right, they worked the ball well for Vincent to slip McManus through, but he drove wide of the near post.

If that was close, the Athletic number nine should have added their second goal just seconds later.

Clark was the architect, picking him out with a superb far-post delivery from the left, but his team-mate could only watch in agony as his header clattered the post.

Lewis Martin, who was very solid at left back, showcased the determination in the Pars ranks with six minutes to goal.

As Inverness looked to break he chased back, won the ball well and ran towards goal, only for Ridgers to save his shot from the edge of the box.

There was an even bigger opportunity a minute later that should have sealed the game.

Craigen swept the ball left for McManus, who did well to shield the ball from his markers and turn in the box.

He played it across goal for Higginbotham who smashed it first time, only for Ridgers to produce a strong stop.

The winger perhaps should have scored before McManus sent a free-kick way over as the clock ticked into the 90th minute, but the Pars held on for a huge three points.